New York Times columnist David Carr dies at 58

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- New York Times media columnist David Carr died at the age of 58 Thursday at St. Luke's-Roosevelt hospital in Manhattan.

Carr was pronounced dead at the hospital after collapsing in the New York Times newsroom before being discovered around 9 p.m. New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet informed the newspaper's staff in an email Thursday night.

"He was our biggest champion, and his unending passion for journalism and for truth will be missed by his family at The Times, by his readers around the world and by people who love journalism," wrote Baquet.

Carr studied journalism and psychology at the University of Minnesota. Carr went to work for the Atlantic Monthly, the Washington City Paper and New York Magazine. In 2002, he joined the Times as business write for magazine publishing. He began to write about all media from scandals in journalism to the Golden Globes.

He battled a crack cocaine addiction in the 1980s -- a struggle he was frank about in his memoir "The Night of the Gun." Carr entered treatment and was able to share his experience and recovery with his readers.

"Today I am a genuine, often pleasant person, I do solid work for a reputable organization and have, over the breadth of time, proved to be an attentive father and husband," he wrote in 2008.

He was blunt but fair and tried to be the voice of reason on subjects that weren't always reasonable.

"We want our anchors to be both good at reading the news and also pretending to be in the middle of it," he wrote in his recent column regarding Brian Williams. "We want our anchors to be everywhere, to be impossibly famous, globe-trotting, hilarious, down-to-earth, and above all, trustworthy. It's a job description that no one can match."

When asked what's the best advice he received as a young journalist, he replied, "Keep typing until it turns into writing."

Carr is survived by his wife Jill Rooney Carr and his daughters Maddie, Erin and Meagan.

Journalists and fans expressed their sympathy over Twitter following the news of his death, mourning a great loss to the field of journalism.

Hearts are breaking in newsrooms near and far. God, we will miss our wise, fearless, funny, humble friend, @carr2n. Too sad, too soon.

— Diana B. Henriques (@dianabhenriques) February 13, 2015

remembering David Carr - like Dylan sang of Lenny Bruce: He sure was funny And he sure told the truth And he knew what he was talking about

— Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) February 13, 2015

David Carr is one of the finest journalists and one of the best human beings I've ever known.

— a. o. scott (@aoscott) February 13, 2015

David Carr, dead at 58. The greatest colleague, mentor and friend to everyone. So, so sad. http://t.co/39jZjCATAy

— Nick Bilton (@nickbilton) February 13, 2015

David Carr was a great journalist & skeptic without ever losing his empathy.A wicked sense of humor. And he defined the idea of redemption.

— Alex Gibney (@alexgibneyfilm) February 13, 2015